Shown are some the interiors of maquinita parlors raided by authorities.
Shown are some the interiors of maquinita parlors raided by authorities.
Shown are PVC pipes with money concealed inside. Authorities said the suspects stashed the money in PVC pipes to transport it between Zapata and Laredo.
Shown are PVC pipes with money concealed inside. Authorities said the suspects stashed the money in PVC pipes to transport it between Zapata and Laredo.
Hilda Villarreal was charged with money laundering, a first degree felony punishable with life or five to 99 years in prison and a possible $10,000 fine.
Hilda Villarreal was charged with money laundering, a first degree felony punishable with life or five to 99 years in prison and a possible $10,000 fine.
Shown are some the interiors of maquinita parlors raided by authorities.
Shown are some the interiors of maquinita parlors raided by authorities.
Miriam Sanchez, 55, is facing charges of gambling promotion and engaging in organized criminal activity.
Miriam Sanchez, 55, is facing charges of gambling promotion and engaging in organized criminal activity.
Rebecca Lopez Villarreal, 49, is facing charges of gambling promotion, engaging in organized criminal activity and keeping a gambling place.
Rebecca Lopez Villarreal, 49, is facing charges of gambling promotion, engaging in organized criminal activity and keeping a gambling place.
Shown are some the interiors of maquinita parlors raided by authorities.
Shown are some the interiors of maquinita parlors raided by authorities.
Lucio Saldivar, 76, is facing charges of gambling promotion and engaging in organized criminal activity.
Lucio Saldivar, 76, is facing charges of gambling promotion and engaging in organized criminal activity.
Shown are some the interiors of maquinita parlors raided by authorities.
Shown are some the interiors of maquinita parlors raided by authorities.
Click through the gallery to see scenes from the maquinita raids in the Gateway City and Zapta that started off the new year.
Click through the gallery to see scenes from the maquinita raids in the Gateway City and Zapta that started off the new year.
A Laredo police unit is shown outside a home in the 3000 block of Robert Frost on Friday afternoon. Authorities said they executed a search warrant at the home in connection with an illegal gambling investigation. The property is owned by Joel Lopez, head coach of the Alexander High School football team.
lessA Laredo police unit is shown outside a home in the 3000 block of Robert Frost on Friday afternoon. Authorities said they executed a search warrant at the home in connection with an illegal gambling
... moreLucky Spin, a maquinita located at 503 East St. in Falcon Heights, was among the six 8-liner establishments that were raided by law enforcement.
Lucky Spin, a maquinita located at 503 East St. in Falcon Heights, was among the six 8-liner establishments that were raided by law enforcement.
A Laredo Police Department unit is parked outside the Village of Fortune Amusement Center at 205 Village after it along with other centers throughout the city were raided by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
lessA Laredo Police Department unit is parked outside the Village of Fortune Amusement Center at 205 Village after it along with other centers throughout the city were raided by local, state and federal law
... moreLucky Spin, a maquinita located at 503 East St. in Falcon Heights, was among the six 8-liner establishments that were raided by law enforcement.
Lucky Spin, a maquinita located at 503 East St. in Falcon Heights, was among the six 8-liner establishments that were raided by law enforcement.
Lucky Spin, a maquinita located at 503 East St. in Falcon Heights, was among the six 8-liner establishments that were raided by law enforcement.
Lucky Spin, a maquinita located at 503 East St. in Falcon Heights, was among the six 8-liner establishments that were raided by law enforcement.
Law enforcement raided Magic Spin, a maquinita located at West Calton Road and Gallagher Avenue.
Law enforcement raided Magic Spin, a maquinita located at West Calton Road and Gallagher Avenue.
A Laredo police unit is shown outside a home in the 3000 block of Robert Frost on Friday afternoon. Authorities said they executed a search warrant at the home in connection with an illegal gambling investigation. The property is owned by Joel Lopez, head coach of the Alexander High School football team.
lessA Laredo police unit is shown outside a home in the 3000 block of Robert Frost on Friday afternoon. Authorities said they executed a search warrant at the home in connection with an illegal gambling
... moreLaw enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Law enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Law enforcement raided Magic Spin, a maquinita located at West Calton Road and Gallagher Avenue.
Law enforcement raided Magic Spin, a maquinita located at West Calton Road and Gallagher Avenue.
A Laredo Police officer talks to a woman before transporting her from the Village of Fortune Amusement Center at 205 Village, Friday, January 5, 2018.
A Laredo Police officer talks to a woman before transporting her from the Village of Fortune Amusement Center at 205 Village, Friday, January 5, 2018.
Law enforcement raided Magic Spin, a maquinita located at West Calton Road and Gallagher Avenue.
Law enforcement raided Magic Spin, a maquinita located at West Calton Road and Gallagher Avenue.
Law enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Law enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Law enforcement raided Magic Spin, a maquinita located at West Calton Road and Gallagher Avenue.
Law enforcement raided Magic Spin, a maquinita located at West Calton Road and Gallagher Avenue.
Law enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Law enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Law enforcement raided Magic Spin, a maquinita located at West Calton Road and Gallagher Avenue.
Law enforcement raided Magic Spin, a maquinita located at West Calton Road and Gallagher Avenue.
Law enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Law enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Law enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Law enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Law enforcement raided Magic Spin, a maquinita located at West Calton Road and Gallagher Avenue.
Law enforcement raided Magic Spin, a maquinita located at West Calton Road and Gallagher Avenue.
Law enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Law enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Law enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Law enforcement loads evidence into a vehicle following a raid a maquinita, Village of Fortune.
Less than a week after his wife and mother-in-law were arrested in connection with an investigation into maquinitas, Joel Lopez has been reassigned from his role as the Alexander High School athletic coordinator and football head coach after 12 seasons with the Bulldogs.
"I just want to say that I’m extremely proud of the fact I was the head football coach for these years. I’m very proud of all the kids I’ve had the opportunity to coach that have come through the walls at Alexander," Lopez said. "I want to thank the parents and the community at Alexander, the faculty and staff, and I’m talking about anybody that has worked at Alexander. I’m very grateful for their loyalty and effort toward our kids."
Lopez was called into the office of United Independent School District Superintendent Roberto Santos on Thursday and informed of the decision. He was not told what his role will be going forward but expects to find out more by Monday.
"The superintendent Mr. Santos called me into his office and advised me I was going to be reassigned," Lopez said. "They didn’t ask me to resign or anything at this point, but I am no longer the head football coach at Alexander."
The reassignment came six days after his home was raided as part of an investigation into money laundering and illegal gambling. His wife, Rebecca Lopez-Villarreal, was arrested Friday at their home and is out on bond after being charged with gambling promotion, keeping a gambling place and engaging in organized criminal activity.
Lopez’s mother-in-law, Hilda Guerra Villarreal, was arrested Tuesday in Zapata on charges of money laundering.
Lopez finished 78-64 in his career at Alexander while making the postseason in 10 of his 12 seasons. The Bulldogs matched Laredo’s deepest playoff run in four straight years making the third round form 2010-13. It was part of eight straight playoff appearances from 2008-15.
"I’m very proud of the football teams we’ve coached through the years and extremely proud of the coaches," Lopez said. "I’d like to tell the parents at Alexander that I’m very grateful they allowed their kids to be coached by our staff and allowed me to be a part of their lives."
His time at Alexander allowed Lopez to coach multiple family members. Two of those playoff runs came with his son Jerry Lopez playing quarterback. He passed for 9,909 yards and 93 touchdowns in three years as the starter.
"I want to thank my family for being so supportive of me, my kids, especially my wife, my parents and my brothers and sisters," Lopez said.
AHS was 10-10 in playoff appearances under Lopez including a 1-1 mark this season. After a 1-5 start to the season, the Bulldogs rolled off five straight wins including a 42-17 rout of McAllen Rowe in the opening round of the playoffs. They were edged 21-18 in the area round by Weslaco East.
Lopez was named the Laredo Morning Times All-City co-Coach of the Year along with Nixon’s Antonio Villalon. Before coming to Alexander, Lopez served as the head coach at Nixon from 1999-2005.
"I was very blessed to have been part of this," Lopez said. "I was blessed to have had the coaching staff I had through the years. I hope that somehow they continue to work the program we’ve been working and hopefully the kids won’t be affected too much. And who knows? Maybe you’ll see me soon in the coaching ranks."
jmack@lmtonline.com Twitter: @jmacklmt